Silhouette challenge
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Convair GAM-71 Buck Duck
In the early 1950s, Convair studied the concept of a small decoy missile to be carried inside the bomb bay of a B-36 Peacemaker bomber. This decoy was to be launched by the B-36 in enemy air space to confuse and saturate air defense systems. Convair actually built a prototype using company funds, and in August 1954 the USAF awarded an official development contract for the Buck Duck decoy under project MX-2224. The vehicle was subsequently designated GAM-71, and the name was sometimes shortened to plain Duck. Glide tests of XGAM-71 prototypes launched from a modified B-29 began in February 1955.
The GAM-71 was a small missile with straight wings which could be folded for stowage in the B-36's bomb bay. It was powered by an Aerojet XLR85 variable-thrust liquid-fueled rocket engine, which offered a powered flight duration of 38 minutes. The Buck Duck used radar reflectors to simulate the radar return of a B-36, and had a range of 370 km (230 miles) at a speed of Mach 0.55. Initially it was planned that one bomber in a formation carries the full load of seven GAM-71s, but using a mixed load of two decoys and a reduced bomb load on all B-36s would have been also possible.
In the early 1950s, Convair studied the concept of a small decoy missile to be carried inside the bomb bay of a B-36 Peacemaker bomber. This decoy was to be launched by the B-36 in enemy air space to confuse and saturate air defense systems. Convair actually built a prototype using company funds, and in August 1954 the USAF awarded an official development contract for the Buck Duck decoy under project MX-2224. The vehicle was subsequently designated GAM-71, and the name was sometimes shortened to plain Duck. Glide tests of XGAM-71 prototypes launched from a modified B-29 began in February 1955.
The GAM-71 was a small missile with straight wings which could be folded for stowage in the B-36's bomb bay. It was powered by an Aerojet XLR85 variable-thrust liquid-fueled rocket engine, which offered a powered flight duration of 38 minutes. The Buck Duck used radar reflectors to simulate the radar return of a B-36, and had a range of 370 km (230 miles) at a speed of Mach 0.55. Initially it was planned that one bomber in a formation carries the full load of seven GAM-71s, but using a mixed load of two decoys and a reduced bomb load on all B-36s would have been also possible.
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Thanks Sinco - so I see that website has also been found! I came across it a couple of months back and had been meaning to have a more detailed look at it but never got around to it! Sorry to those who did all the hard work - a quick search for rocket powered decoy found it. Good challenge ![Thumb](https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif)
Something definitely not rocket powered!
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Something definitely not rocket powered!
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Thanks skytrain; I actually found that site when I was looking for your North American X-10 Challenge last year, tiz good though!
Trailing for bait cancelled as I see it looks like the Wizard has it
Trailing for bait cancelled as I see it looks like the Wizard has it
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Is your latest a fighter or a racer/sport type and is it late twenties or early thirties?
Edit to say - see I was right!
Graeme - well done, yes the Siai S.52 from 1924
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Sinco
Blimey - and here was I thinking I was the only one! I got the X-10 from a that excellent publication, X-Planes by Jay Miller.
I actually found that site when I was looking for your North American X-10
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Gentlemen....
I've got some serious eating and drinking to do tonight. Please ignore my challenge above and make it OPEN HOUSE.
See you next year!![Thumb](https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif)
Cheers,
Graeme.
I've got some serious eating and drinking to do tonight. Please ignore my challenge above and make it OPEN HOUSE.
See you next year!
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Cheers,
Graeme.
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Graeme
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family mate. Have a good one![Thumb](https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif)
May all your challenges in 2011 be simple ones!!
Cheers mate - I'll catch up on the eating and the drinking when I get back home tonight.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family mate. Have a good one
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May all your challenges in 2011 be simple ones!!
Cheers mate - I'll catch up on the eating and the drinking when I get back home tonight.
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